Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a decision [7] on July 9, unanimously confirming charges against Sudanese militia leader Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman. Consequently, Abd-Al-Rahman, who is also known as Ali Kushayb [8], was committed to trial before an ICC trial chamber. Abd-Al-Rahman was a top commander of the Janjaweed militia, and one of the most senior leaders in the tribal hierarchy in Wadi Salih locality, Central Darfur state. He is also a leader of the Popular Defense Forces, the more regularized successor to the Janjaweed. He is alleged to have led pro-government campaigns against Darfur rebel groups, ultimately displacing 40,000 and murdering 300 civilians.
While the arrest warrant [10] listed 53 counts of criminal conduct, the court found that there were substantial grounds indicating that Abd-Al-Rahman is responsible for 31 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed [11] between August 2003 and April 2004 in Darfur.
Abd-Al-Rahman faces the following charges [12]: intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population; murder as a war crime and crime against humanity; pillaging as a war crime; destruction of the property of an adversary as a war crime; other inhumane acts as crimes against humanity; outrages upon personal dignity as a war crime; rape as a war crime and crime against humanity; forcible transfer as a crime against humanity; persecution as a crime against humanity; torture as a war crime and crime against humanity; cruel treatment as a war crime; and attempted murder as a war crime and crime against humanity.
Abd-Al-Rahman has been in ICC’s custody since June 2020, after voluntarily surrendering himself in the Central African Republic. Shortly after, he made an initial appearance [13] before the ICC. The hearing for the confirmation of the charges was held [14] before the court in May 2021. The decision of the court can only be appealed with the consent of the court itself.
From Jurist [15], July 11. Used with permission.